Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Katie Mulvaney
Journal staff writer

WEST WARWICK -- A convicted murderer has been sent back to prison as a parole violator after police say he rode drunk in a car driven by his father, who is also accused of being under the influence.

A caller alerted police to a car weaving on Providence Street at 1:19 p.m. Wednesday, said Sgt. Donald Archibald. The driver and passenger showed signs of intoxication when officers stopped the vehicle at Providence Street and Newell Road.

The driver, Patrick J. Gaffney, 56, failed a field sobriety test at the scene and refused to take a blood alcohol test at police headquarters, Archibald said. Police charged Gaffney, of 29 Morris Ave., Pawtucket, with driving under the influence and operating with a suspended license.

A criminal record check of the passenger, Wayne P. Ledoux, 35, who is Gaffney's son, found he was on parole from a 1991 murder, Archibald said.

Police notified the parole board, and Ledoux, of 130 Setian Lane, was taken back to the Adult Correctional Institutions for allegedly violating his parole terms by not keeping the peace and associating with a convicted felon.

Gaffney, Ledoux's father, has served time for drug dealing, robbery and felony domestic assault, court records show.

In 1994, at age 22, Ledoux was sentenced to 40 years in prison, and 20 years' suspended, for second-degree murder in the beating and stabbing death of Jorge Samano, a 22-year-old Mexican immigrant whose body was found in a Coventry graveyard.

Ledoux has repeatedly violated parole since his release from prison in February 2003, said Tracey Poole, ACI spokeswoman. Ledoux will get a violation hearing and could be held until the conclusion of sentence in August 2031.

 Tags  Coventry murder Patrick J. Gaffney West Warwick

Comments

Karen said:

This article states he has repeatedly violated his parole. How many times is repeatedly? How many times is he allowed to violate parole before he is actually made to finish the remaining time to serve on the murder charge? This state is unbelievable!!! He was sentenced for murder, not shoplifting. He should have been made to serve the entire sentence the first time he violated parole. Oh my god this state is so messed up! Who allowed him to remain on the streets when he has (repeatedly) violated parole. It seems to me that he is sending a message of.."I don't care" and he is not a productive member or society

Link | October 23, 2008 12:36 PM
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Kat said:

This guy murdered someone and was in jail for 9 years???

Link | October 23, 2008 2:32 PM
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SAL said:

WAKE UP.... CAN'T U C WHERE OUR COUNTRY IS GOING?
LIBERALS RULE. EVEN WHEN AN ILLEGAL COMMITS A CRIME MANY REFUSE TO HAVE THEM DEPORTED. SOCIALIST
IS JUST A STEP BEFORE COMMUNISM. I'M NOT A NUT..
JUST SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE WORLD BEFORE ME..

Link | October 23, 2008 4:53 PM
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Rhody Born said:

A joke indeed. 9 years for murder, yet a habitual parole violator. Lets see a speeding ticket stays on your record for 3 years, I think bankruptcy for 7, but this guy takes a life and gets 9. Hey at least his father isn't the mayor of a city that he owes $75K to, or a WW senator who can't accept defeat.

Link | October 23, 2008 5:03 PM
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Joe said:

Rhody Born you said that perfectly. 9 years for murder, incredible. My thoughts on murder is if you murder someone you should be away for life in a small room and fed only saltine crackers and very little water.

Link | October 23, 2008 9:32 PM
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mark said:

The Conditions of Parole do not contain a provision that reads "...keep the peace..." and the association condition excludes immediate family members.

Link | October 27, 2008 10:54 AM
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